Improvement in potato-digger



JOHN SHERWOOD, OF O'ITU'MWA, IOWA.

Leners Patent No. oaola'daafz .my 27, 1869.

-*alb* IMPROVEMENT IN'4 POTATO-DICrG-ER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the came.

To all whom it may cof/cem l Be it known that'I, JOHN Sunnwoon, of Ottumwa, in the county of Wape'llo, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and improved Potato-Digger ,-.and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whic -e Figure l is a side view of my improved potato-digger, partly in section,.through the line x x, tig. 2.A

Figure 2 is a top or plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish a simple, convenient, and effective potatodigger, which shall be so constructed and arranged as to do its work easily and thoroughly, leaving the potatoes spread 'over the surface of the ground; and

It consists in the construction and combination of the various parts of the machine, as hereinafter more fully described. p

A is the plow, or shovel, which is made of steel, and in about the shape shown in ig.- 2.

To the under side of the ends of the' plow A are attached the enls of thebars B, which extend back, to'

form a smooth surface or runners for the machine to run upon.

The bars B then curve upward and forward, and their upper or forwardends meet, as shown in iig. 2, and to them is attached the clevis C.

To the rear part of the plow, or shovel A are attached the forward ends of the rods D, at such a distance apart as not to allow the potatoes to pass through, while allowing the dirt raised with said potatoes to pass through freely.

The rear ends of the rods D are passed' through the cross-bar E, to which they are secured by screw-nuts, so 'that the rear ends of said rods may be raised or entered, as desired.

The ends ofthe c ross-barvE are bent downward, and

are securely attached to bars B, the downwardly-projecting ends of said bar being of such a length as to raise the body of said bar E, and consequently thc rear ends of the rods D, toa suitable height.

To ,the cross-bar E is connected another cross-bar, F, by rings or hinges, as shown in gs. 1 and 2.

To the cross-bar F aresecurely attached the forward ends of the rods G, the rear ends of which trail upon the ground, so as to form an inclined apron, down which the potatoes roll, and which allows any dirt Ythat may still adhere. to said potatoes to pass through freely.

H are the handles, the forward ends of which are securely'attached to the bars B, and which are' strengthened by inclined braces, I.

The handles H are connected and held inytheir properA Arelative positions by one ormore cross-bars or rounds, J.

K isa lever, the lower end of which is'secured to the side of the apron F G, and its upper end extends up along the inner side of one of the handles H, where it is kept in place by a long keeper, h', by Vwhich its movement is limited, so that by moving the upper end of the lever K forward, the-apron F G may be raised from the ground, for convenience in backing and turn ing the machine.

Having thus described my invention,

. I claim as new, and de'sire to secure by Lettersl Patent- 1.r An improved potato-digger, formed by the com'- bination of the plow or shovel A, curved bars B, rods D, cross-bar E, hinged cross-bar F, rods G, and handles H I with' each other, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth..

2. The apron F G, constructed as herein described, and provided with the lever K, Working in the keeperh', when. arras ged with reference to the rods D, cur ved bars B, and handle H, as set forth and shown.

JOHN SHERWOOD. Witnesses: y

C. E. FULTON, T. R. WALLACE. 

